Friday, July 22, 2011

Moving on up...

to the the next daycare class.
& boy, am I sad!

We went from this on his first day at daycare back in October 2010,




TO THIS!





Slow down, JMc! Your mama and daddy can't keep up with how quickly you are changing from our little baby drinking from a bottle to such a grown little man.

We are so blessed with the perfect son.  Just one of the many milestones that will make us want to cry. 
We are so proud of you, John McRae!

I started this post on 6/6/11, but just got a recent lunch photo today.  We are no longer sad that John McRae has moved up because he loves his new class and is head over heals for his new teacher!  We still love Ms. Shaye, but Ms. Brittany has it going on, too!  This is just the beginning of stuff that is going to affect Daniel and I WAY more than it does our sweet boy.  He's improving in speech, coloring and is getting smarter and funnier by the day!

XOXO,
Mama & Daddy

Monday, July 11, 2011

Family Day Video

The one year anniversary of our family day is quickly approaching. I've finally put together a video with some photos from refferal, from our airport homecoming and our trip home from Memphis.  I hope that you all enjoy this video as much as I do.  Thank you to everyone who loved and supported us throughout our wild journey to bring home our son, John McRae Ha-su Benefield. Click the link below to watch. :)




Friday, July 1, 2011

Deciding to Adopt

Sometimes I'm afraid that I sound like a broken record to those currently outside of the adoption community.  I have no doubt that those who have adopted, are in the process now and those whose family has been directly blessed by adoption understand.  It's a passion so deep in my soul that I think about it constantly.  We are so blessed and I only wish those same blessings and happiness for everyone I come in contact with.

There are so many myths about adoption that keep folks from going forward even when it has been placed on their hearts. You borrow trouble by dwelling on the cost, the anxiety, the acceptance of family members, the fear of not loving the child once he or she is home, the fear of a failed process, the fear of not being accepted at committee for a child who's photo you've already fallen in love with, the fear of an agency not being legit and taking your money, the fear that your child will grow up and not be accepted by society, the fear of not being in control, the fear that you won't know the true health of your adopted child and the fear of the unknown. 

I have witnessed God throughout our adoption and while following the adoption stories of my friends who I have met along the way.  It is so clear to me now that God's love for orphans shines through and He makes everything happen in His perfect timing.  It's a God thing. Trust in Him and all of the pieces of the puzzle will fit together.  The money, the anxiety and the fears of the unknowns will all be a distant memory the exact moment you receive your travel call to finally go get your child!  I've heard it compared to labor pains.  Once it is over, you are so ready to do it again.  The pain is worth it whether you are going through a physical or paper pregnancy.


Ephesians 1:3-6
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."

James 1:27 
"Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after  orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Romans 8:15-16
"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."

Deuteronomy 24:19
"He defends the cause of the fatherless, giving food and clothing."

Exodus 22:21-22
"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan."

Exodus 22:22-24
"He hears the cries of the orphan."

Psalm 68:5
"He is a father to the fatherless."

Deuteronomy 14:29
"He blesses those who provide for the orphan."

There is so much information out there with good news about adoption.  You have to get past the negatives.  I've shared our story on this blog and I invite you to go re-read it.  I invite you to look at our family day photos.  So many of my friends in the adoption community would love to share their stories with you, too.  There are great websites to obtain information.  Go to YouTube and search for adoption day videos or airport homecomings. I guarantee you will need an entire roll of tissue to dry your eyes.  Adoption is so bittersweet. One family loses a child and another family gains them.  It's definitely the best decision Daniel and I have ever made and we are so very thankful for our handsome, precious, perfect son who was once listed on Holt's Waiting Child Photolisting.  HE IS PERFECT.  All of the issues that made him go to that listing have all resolved on their own.  You can't make me believe that God didn't have a hand in that!  We love John McRae so much and are so thankful that we didn't let the negatives keep us from bringing him home. 

Below are a few websites that you might like if you or someone you know is interested in adoption.

XOXO,
Stacy

Thinking back

to this time last year.
Here is the our timeline from www.jmbenfield.com (our baby jelly beans site).

May


4th - Received Acceptance Email From Holt

13th - Received Legal Documents

OUR WAIT BEGINS

14th - Mailed I-600 Application

17th - Received Notice that I-600A Approval has been sent to Embassy!

27th - EP submitted!

June

25th - I-600 Approved!

28th - EP Approved!!!

July

1st - I-600 Forwarded to Embassy

Emma helped put together nursery furniture


To say the least, last summer was a very exiting one and it took all I had to keep from going insane waiting on the day that our little baby Bak Bak would make his appearance.  Yes, we called him that for 9 months because we could not decide on a name!

On the day that we got our EP approval, Emma and her family were visiting from NC.  If my memory serves me correctly, the Linn's and my dad went to lunch with me to celebrate such a huge milestone in the adoption process.

A year ago today, Emma was here with me.  We spent the evening of July 1, 2010 (into the wee morning hours of July 2nd) putting together JMc's nursery furniture.  Daniel was in the bed with pneumonia, and we were using what ever we could find to assist in putting together that furniture.  Considering we used a meat cleaver and dish rag for hammering, I think it all went together pretty well.  We were so sure JMc was going to love his cute little room and sleep peacefully in his new bed.  Um, not!  He's not spent enough time in that crib to even know what its original use is.  Now, it is in my bedroom filled with clothes, pillows and the other junk that I haven't wanted to put away.  Precious memories.  I sure wish I was spending the night with Emma Linn and her boys tonight!  I miss my Auntie Em today, like everyday, and hope that we can pull some sort of strings this summer to catch a quick look at one another.


Gosh, time flies.  Now, our precious little baby Bak Bak has been home for 10 months.  We can't remember life without him. He's definitely in his terrible twos, but he can be the sweetest little thing... when he wants to be!  I'm sure this time next year, I'll be reminiscing over this summer and the wonderful memories we have and will make in the coming months.



Any time our family gets together, it is always a fun time. We are all silly! :)





I sure miss Tuff.  Crying right now as I look at this picture. :*(

Grandma was so suprised.  We kept her party a secret!

Aren't they precious!

D-Lite & Miah


Gee and D

My Grandma and her children

Some of the girls :)

Emma with the birthday girl :)

Ha Ha Ha!

Who knew our kid would have ther personality of Owen?  We love it!

Me and my Auntie Em.


Love him!

Yummy watermelon


Gosh, I wish I could get some of that sweet sugar!!!



Grocery store feet.


Isn't she beautiful?

Ike was so into that show!

Me and my Sweet D.
XOXO,
Stacy